3/28/05 | Bead Dazzled
Belatedly, I found this article online in The Plain Dealer about how jewelry making, and specifically beading, is a really hot crafting area right now. But I guess this should come as no surprise to anyone who’s seem the proliferation of all those bead magazines and even numerous TV shows and specials.
Fashioning beads into jewelry is the fastest-growing crafting trend in America, according to retailers, beading magazine publishers and industry experts who follow crafting trends.
Women of all ages - from teens to grandmothers - have embraced this creative endeavor. They’ve turned extra bedrooms and basements into studios, purchased the requisite jewelry-making tools and materials and thrown jewelry parties.
For the past two years, Sue and Kathleen have organized the Renegade Craft Fair a festival of sorts in Chicago that featured DIY crafters and their creations. This year they’ve gone “on tour” for the first time and are planning a Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn in addition to their usual Chicago event. Note that they are no longer accepting applications for the New York event so jewelry makers will have to either wait until next year to apply or try out for the one in Chicago which is taking place in September 2005.
If you’re running a small jewelry or craft business and are looking for a really fun way to promote your products, you should take a look at The Sampler. Marie from The Sampler started up this service in August of 2004. Basically, every month people sign up for a nominal fee to receive a really fun variety package containing tons of indie craft samples including things like jewelry, handsewn pouches, soap, buttons, stickers, zines, candles, bookmarks, magazines, CDs and more! DIY Craft businesses are the ones that provide the actual samples, which acts as a promotional tool for them to get their name out there. There are different tiers of sample contribution, ranging from people who contribute only a few one-of-a-kind special items, to magazines who contribute 200+ copies.
